EU concerned about Soboliev’s possible dismissal as parliamentary anti-corruption committee head, calls MPs to think it over carefully
Head of the EU delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli says the EU is concerned about the decision of the members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Corruption Prevention and Counteraction to initiate withdrawal of Yehor Soboliev (Samopomich faction) from the committee head post since the recent developments in the fight against corruption in Ukraine also raised international concern.
As reported by Censor.NET, Mingarelli Wednesday said responding to the relevant inquiry filed by Interfax-Ukraine.
According to the ambassador, the EU is concerned that the majority of the anti-corruption committee members are inclined to advocate dismissal of the Committee Chairman Soboliev. He urged the lawmakers to think such a recommendation over carefully before it is voted in the parliament taking into account international concerns about current developments in Ukraine’s fight against corruption.
He also stressed that in recent years, the anti-corruption committee chaired by Soboliev has made a very important and impressive effort in creation of the new anti-corruption bodies and contributed to Ukraine’s compliance with the terms of the visa liberalization action plan (VLAP) related to struggle against corruption while every Ukrainian citizen and friend can be proud of these achievements.
The diplomat also warned against any deviation in anti-corruption reform noting that it was necessary to protect new institutions, such as the NABU. They should be provided with space and resources to do their job and show result in the fight against corrupt officials where the parliament and its anti-corruption committee play an important role, Mingarelli said.
According to him, attempts to undermine the fight against corruption will become a recession of the reform process in Ukraine and will not go unnoticed.
Earlier, members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Corruption Prevention and Counteraction recognized Soboliev’s work as unsatisfactory and decided to initiate his withdrawal from the committee chairman post.
